Men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton once compared freshman Mike DiNunno and sophomore Darion “Jake” Anderson to Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan.

The two combine to lead their team in scoring with 16.3 and 12.7 points a game, respectively.

Where Anderson is the team hero Jordan, DiNunno makes it all possible, stepping in when his teammate is caught up.

Last year, Anderson was named the MAC freshman of the year after the team only went 6-22 on the season. With a 12.2 point a game average, the guard became the first freshman to lead the team in scoring since T.J. Lux in the 1995-96 season.

Now, DiNunno is a top candidate for the same award after becoming one of the top freshmen in the conference. Though Anderson still leads the team in scoring, DiNunno leads his class in points, 3-pointers, assists and minutes played.

The Convocation Center boasts these two exciting players, yet something seems to be missing: excitement.

Personally, I’m tired of the old argument about fan turnout. Everyone understands that NIU doesn’t have the best attendance numbers. What confuses me is the men’s attendance will break 1,000, but the sound in the stands resembles a number more like 15 on a good night.

Sure, the occasional alley-oop from Anderson to center Sean Kowal or the Najul Ervin high-flying dunk bring a bit of life to the crowd, but other than that, it’s silent.

Well, that’s not entirely true. The NIU marching band cheers loud and often. After one game, the basketball team even joined them to celebrate a hard-fought win.

But one cheering section doesn’t even rival the noise coming from one of my old high school basketball games. Granted, it only came from the obnoxiously over-tough seniors who wouldn’t shut up to save the buddy next to them, but at least it was noise. Sometimes it was even loud enough to take one or two of the opposing players out of his element.

Noise is what home court advantage is all about, and NIU doesn’t have it. That’s probably why Patton sent out a student-wide e-mail asking fans to come out to the last two home games.

NIU fans need to follow the examples of the obnoxious seniors and get loud. And for those who don’t like to yell, at least make a poster. They’re free to make at the Convo so no excuses.

Jordan and Pippen never had to play in silence, so why do Anderson and DiNunno?